Debinha, Kizer ensure happy homecoming match for Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride
The Kansas City Current endured a whirlwind of a week, playing three games in eight days (including two on the road) and firing head coach Matt Potter.
But for the second straight game since Potter’s midweek dismissal, they’ve done what they seemingly couldn’t under his leadership this season: win.
Second-half goals by Debinha and Cece Kizer lifted the Current (1-3-0) past the Orlando Pride 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park.
The victory ended a three-game NWSL losing streak to open the season for the Current, who beat the Houston Dash in the Challenge Cup Wednesday. Kizer, the Overland Park native, also scored both goals in that 2-0 KC victory.
The Current’s defense was rock-solid Sunday. And they were generally the more dangerous team in the first half despite having nothing to show for it on the halftime scoreboard.
The second half started a little more even until interim Current head coach Caroline Sjöblom made a key substitution: She brought on defender Izzy Rodriguez for rookie forward Michelle Cooper and opted to push Hailie Mace higher up the field into the forward line.
“We had been talking about it (among) the technical staff before the game that we wanted to push Hailie higher, and we started to see that Orlando was getting a bit tired on the flank over there,” Sjöblom said. “It’s a good combination to play her together with Hailie, and the way that Izzy came and sprinted and pressed the goalkeeper, it was a really good decision from us to put her there.”
Rodriguez pressed Orlando’s goalkeeper, leading to the turnover that sparked KC’s first goal. After winning the ball just outside the Orlando penalty area, Mace dribbled directly at Orlando’s defense before slipping a pass to Debinha. The Brazilian star expertly tapped the ball past the last defender before shooting into the net.
The Current added their second goal five minutes later when Mace got behind the Pride backline and delivered a ball low and hard to Kizer. The latter’s late run put her in perfect position to shoot past former Current goalkeeper Carly Nelson and make it 2-0.
Miller got her second straight start in net and the Current earned their second consecutive clean sheet. While Miller needed to make just one save all afternoon, the play of the KC backline as a whole was excellent and limited Orlando’s chances.
Sjöblom said the Current’s level of communication has helped this young group solidify itself quickly.
“They communicate in every situation,” the coach said. “They also know their strength and all of them right now are kind of quick so they can rely on the speed they have.”
The Current will be at Children’s Mercy Park again next weekend as the NJ/NY Gotham come to town for a Saturday evening match.
Armbands in support of Ralph Yarl
The Current on Sunday wore black armbands in support of Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old North Kansas City boy who was shot after knocking on the door of the wrong house. The recent shooting sparked nationwide outrage.
“Hearing about the incident, it was tragic, and it’s 10 minutes away from us,” said Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller. “So anything we can do for him, for his family, we just wanted to show that we’re here.”
The armbands were decided upon in a player-led effort to show support for Yarl in his recovery.
“I think it’s really beautiful that we as a club showed this today,” Sjöblom said, “and I think it gave us even more power on the pitch to feel like a unit with KC.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2023 at 6:02 PM.